She wasn’t ready for this fight, and every instinct inside him demanded that he call an end to this. He didn’t know why she was back. When he’d gotten word that she’d left the life for good, he’d been impressed and proud. He’d not liked that her father had so much control, that she’d been forced to do this.

There was always a softness about her, a sweetness that she had to fight in order to get where she was right now.

“Something’s not right.”

“You want me to find out everything?” Carlos asked. “It’s going to cost money.”

Drago pulled out an envelope stuffed with cash. “Find out everything, and I want answers now.”

Carlos scurried away, and he turned his attention back toward the ring. Ben spoke for another couple of minutes, and then he left the ring. Belle and Deadman faced off one against the other. There was some fighting talk coming from Deadman, but Belle had nothing.

She wore a pair of shorts and a sports bra, and it showed the bruises, hinting at the pain she must be in. Ten fights, and from the sight of her, not a single reprieve.

“What the fuck happened to you?” he muttered.

The bell dinged, and he gripped the edge of the balustrade. Where they were had many levels, and he was able to look down from his position to watch.

Back when he was fighting, the cops were always paid a tidy sum to look the other way, and it seemed that was still the case now.

Deadman held Belle and brought his head forward, but she moved left then right, and sank to the floor, landing a blow to Deadman’s crotch. Her movements were slow, sluggish, and as the minutes ticked by, she wasn’t able to dodge Deadman’s fists.

One landed against the cheek, and blood sprayed from her mouth. He picked her up, and threw her across the ring. She landed with a thud on the floor.

Every instinct in Drago’s body screamed at him to get to her, to help her. He hadn’t fought in years, not in a competition, but he’d kept his body at the peak of health. No one could best him in a fight, just like they hadn’t been able to back then. The only reason Deadman was number one right now was because Drago wasn’t there.

Deadman kicked her stomach, shoving her across the floor. She screamed out in pain, and it was the first time Drago had ever seen her like that.

She got to her feet, but her hand was poised in front of her ribs. She’d been hurt bad. This wasn’t going to end well.

Deadman picked her up and tossed her across the ring again, stomping on her stomach. She spat out blood and tried to get away.

“She’s not here because she wants to be,” Carlos said, breaking through the crowd.